Pentagon spokesman John Kirby to take on top strategy role with National Security Council

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby is poised to take a senior strategy and spokesperson-type role with the National Security Council, the White House confirmed Friday night. 

"John Kirby is uniquely qualified for this position, and I look forward to bringing his background, knowledge, and experience to the White House," President Biden said in a statement. "From his work as the Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson at the State Department to his work at the Pentagon, most recently as Assistant to the Secretary for Public Affairs and Press Secretary, John understands the complexities of U.S. foreign and defense policy, and he will ably represent the Administration on important national security issues."  

He's expected to appear occasionally at the daily White House briefing, as other top members of the administration do, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and National Economic Council director Brian Deese, for instance. Kirby's move to the White House was first reported by The Washington Post.

A retired rear admiral, Kirby also served as State Department spokesman at the end of the Obama administration — after his first stint as Pentagon press secretary when Chuck Hagel was the defense secretary.

His move to the White House comes days after the departure of White House press secretary Jen Psaki and as former deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre takes over the White House briefing room podium. 

Kirby met with Mr. Biden soon after he offered the White House press secretary job to Jean-Pierre, a Biden administration official said.

Kirby said late Friday that he was "incredibly honored" to be given the opportunity, and he also thanked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, calling his soon-to-be-former boss a "mentor and a confidante" who "has helped make me a better communicator."

The White House also recently confirmed that top Biden adviser Anita Dunn is returning to the White House, and Ian Sams, who worked on Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, is moving to a communications job supporting the White House counsel's office.

Kirby will start at the National Security Council in June, according to the administration official.